Your partner in Mozambique

The last undiscovered pearl of the Indian Ocean, from Mozambique’s azure warm waters and white deserted beaches of the islands to the bustling fish markets and jovial locals; the country offers a wealth of sights, sounds, tastes and experiences to delight all of your senses.

Mozambique offers a diverse variety of experiences for you to discover. From the delights of discovering abundant coral reefs or experiencing the majestic Whalesharks whilst scuba diving to its growing National Parks and idyllic tropical islands – Mozambique offers this and so much more!

The Arab and Portuguese influences in its history can still be seen and experienced today in historic architecture and mouthwatering dishes prepared by talented chefs.

Mozambique is a destination ideal for honeymooners, families, scuba divers as well as self-drive enthusiasts and can also easily be combined with other African itineraries.

Mozambique Voyages is the most knowledgeable Tour Operator specializing in Mozambique. Please contact us today.

Diving the azure waters of Mozambique

Mozambique is fast becoming one of the most popular dive destinations in the world. It’s numerous unspoilt reefs and rich sea life lures divers to it’s azure water each year. The novice diver will be happy to know that there are several PADI Dive Centres throughout the country – in fact almost all the island / beach properties have a fully licensed PADI dive centre in house. For the less adventurous, Mozambique offers many wonderful snorkeling sites where the beauty and variety of the coral reefs can be enjoyed.

Some of the most popular dive destinations in Mozambique:

Maputo & Surrounds

The south of Mozambique is well known as a popular scuba diving destination, especially among neighbouring South Africans. A variety of dive sites, ranging from idyllic shallow dives to extreme deep blue dives (40 meters) and long-range drift dives, are available in relatively close proximity to the launch site at Ponta Mamoli. The area is frequented by Humpback whales between July and November and Dolphins are regular visitors to the coastal waters.

Inhambane / Tofo

The area of Inhambane / Tofo is famous for the Whale Sharks and Manta Rays that favour the waters around this part of Mozambique. The best time of year to see Whale Sharks is generally from November until April, however, sightings of these beautiful creatures are good all year round. As the area is home to the highest population of Whale Sharks in the world, there are various research projects based in Tofo to monitor and study these gentle giants. Humpback Whales migrate through the coastal waters of Tofo / Inhambane in the winter months from May to October.

Bazaruto Archipelago

In 2001 the Bazaruto Archipelago was proclaimed a National Park which meant that the wildlife and rich underwater sea life remains protected. The warm waters around the islands are exceptionally rich in coral and marine life making the Archipelago a wonderful diving destination. Whale Sharks can also be seen in the area, generally, between April to July and Humpback Whales migrate through the Archipelago waters between August and October.

Ilha de Mozambique

An island with a historical heritage. For nearly four centuries it was the capital of Mozambique. Today the island is a UNESCO world heritage site attracting visitors from all over the world. A 3.5 km long concrete bridge connects the mainland to the island. The tiny town has 16 000 inhabitants and is divided into two halves – Stone Town in the North and Red Town in the South. The buildings have a mix of colonial Portuguese and old Swahili architecture. A visit to the fort built back in the 1522 and the museum is highly recommended.

Quirimbas Archipelago

Situated in the northeast of Mozambique not far from Pemba and home originally to fishing settlements. The Archipelagos consists of about 32 islands with pristine and unspoiled beaches. Most of them offer great dive sites, up to 400m, and have an amazing marine life to discover. The 11 southmost islands are a part of the Quirimbas National Park which was established in 2002. These islands are partly surrounded by mangroves where local fishermen have cast their nets and lines for the last 1000 years.

Itineraries

Packages can be amended to suite each individual traveller’s needs, budget and expectations. Below are a few popular itineraries that showcase the beauty and diversity of Southern Africa as a holiday destination!

Note: with all 4×4 self drive itineraries we strongly recommend that a 4×4 driving course is done. This will assist with a better understanding on how to handle the vehicle correctly and basic steps to follow should you get stuck, have a flat tyre or need to do a water crossing. In brief, a 4×4 driving course ensure that you get the maximum benefit out of your 4×4 vehicle and your self drive holiday!

10 Days Mozambique Relaxing Holiday

Duration

10 Days, 9 Nights

Highlights

Visit the pristine beaches of Mozambique and enjoy luxurious accommodation on a relaxing holiday. The warm waters and incredible sea life is a diver’s dream.

Basis

Accommodated on either Bed and Breakfast or Full Board subject to relevant property – parts of or the full itinerary can be upgraded to luxury accommodation on request.

Ideal for

Couples, Honeymooners, Adventure Travelers

7 Days Vamizi Getaway

Duration

7 Days, 6 Nights

Highlights

Enjoy a private villa at Vamizi Island for 6 nights on a quick fly-in getaway. The island of Vamizi, with its clear waters, abundant marine life and thick, untouched coral reefs, is a tourist paradise.

Basis

Fully inclusive with a private butler and various activities.

Ideal for

Couples & Honeymooners

7 Days Benguerra Getaway

Duration

7 Days, 6 Nights

Highlights

Imagine an unspoiled island within a Marine National Park, deserted beaches of pure white sand that extend for miles, sparkling turquoise seas crisscrossed by local dhows plying their trade, sunny days and star studded nights…

Basis

Fully inclusive accommodation at an Infinity Beach Villa.

Ideal for

Couples, Honeymooners, Families

More travel tips when visiting Mozambique

The new law and facilities at all airports, harbors and borders allow visitors from all countries to obtain a visa upon arrival in Mozambique for $50. Please note that you have to be able to provide documentation proving that you are a bonafide tourist (return flight tickets, confirmed hotel accommodation vouchers ext).

As it might add an extra few minutes to your travels and the fact that the law remains subject to change, we recommend that all travelers obtain a visa prior to arrival in Mozambique.

Officially a tourist Visa is required for ALL nationalities (except for Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, Swaziland, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) but exceptions are well known.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travelers over 1 year of age coming from areas with risk of yellow fever transmission. Find out more about the health requirements on the World Health Organization website…

Mozambique is a Malaria risk area and it is therefore strongly recommended that all travelers consult their medical practitioner at least two weeks prior to the start of their safari. Whether oral prophylaxis is taken or not, it is recommended to always use mosquito repellent, wear long pants, closed shoes and light long-sleeved shirts at night, and sleep under a mosquito net in endemic areas (the Anopheles mosquito, which carries malaria, operates almost exclusively after dark).

It is also highly recommended that all travelers ensure that they have adequate and sufficient Travel and Medical Insurance prior to the start of their holiday

Due to the Geographical elongated nature of Mozambique, its coastline stretches about 2500 kilometres, allowing visitors to enjoy near-coastal accessibility via various airports along the coastline. The six major airports in Mozambique, from North to South, and the destinations nearby are as follows:

We use a few car rental companies, depending on the type of vehicle tourists require. Most of our suppliers offer transfers to and from the various airports, making car rental unnecessary unless the clients desire a self-drive itinerary. Contact our offices to inquire about the vehicle required for their specific itinerary.

Mozambique is renowned for its warm climate, making it the perfect tourist attraction for holiday goers. It has a pronounced tropical climate with basically only two seasons, a wet season (from October to March) and a dry season (from April to September). Temperatures can reach over 40degrees Celcius in summer and rarely drop below 25 degrees in Winter. The most rainfall occurs along the coast and decreases in the north and south.

Mozambique might be a third world country, but the tourist attractions such as most of the five-star hotels and resorts will have WiFi. The communication infrastructure is reasonably well-developed with national coverage, as well as well-established landline phone networks. Both internet and Wi-Fi connections are accessible in most urban areas although access to free Wi-Fi is still limited.

Mozambique’s generating capacity is around 2,200 MW, mainly supplied by the Cahora Bassa hydroelectric dam. Most of that power is exported to neighbouring South Africa, while only 18 percent of Mozambicans have access to electricity. Mozambique has 220-volt electrical sockets, and you will need special adapters for foreign appliances. Follow this link to find out more…

Mozambique is a multilingual country. A number of Bantu languages are indigenous to Mozambique. Portuguese, inherited from the colonial period, is the official language, and Mozambique is a full member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.Ethnologue lists 43 languages spoken in the country. According to INE, the National Institute of Statistics of Mozambique, Portuguese is the most widely spoken language. Other widely spoken languages include Swahili, Makhuwa, Sena, Ndau, and Shangaan (Tsonga). Other indigenous languages of Mozambique include Lomwe, Makonde, Chopi, Chuwabu, Ronga, Kimwani, Zulu, and Tswa. The language of the deaf community is Mozambican Sign Language.

Use common sense and take basic safety precautions. Keep valuables locked away and don’t wear expensive watches or jewellery, flash expensive cameras, or walk in deserted areas. Keep car doors and windows locked at all times. If in doubt, ask a guide or at your accommodation for safety guidelines.

As a rough guide, the customary tip for a waiter in a restaurant is between 10% to 15%. However, the tip amount is a personal decision and should be based on whether the service exceeded your expectations.

Although the road infrastructure is not as advanced as nearby countries, tourists can get around with 2×4 vehicles in towns. 4×4’s are compulsory for driving along the coast or on the beaches, of course. Some roads are very narrow without shoulder lanes and the general public is not keen on adhering to speed limits or traffic rules. We recommend making use of transfer services where possible, but for self-drive tours, we provide all the necessary equipment and guidelines to enjoy the country.

We would advise tourists to buy bottled water or only drink water provided by reputable sources and restaurants in the towns, especially when travelling to remote rural areas and the bush.

More About Mozambique Voyages

Mozambique Voyages provides travelers an unprecedented level of access and specialization for travel to Mozambique. The company is a new division of Uitkyk Holidays, a safari company specializing in the whole of Southern Africa. Having been in operation for twelve years, Uitkyk Holidays was increasingly specializing in providing full ground handling services specifically for Mozambique as a destination, and as a result of the volume of business in Mozambique was able to offer the best rates and most up to date product knowledge in this destination.

The decision to create Mozambique Voyages as a separate company was an obvious move for 2010. Uitkyk Holidays will still continue to market, sell and package itineraries and tours in Southern Africa countries including South Africa, Namibia and Botswana.”Mozambique is perhaps the most exciting destination on the African continent at the moment,” explains Martijn Mellaart, owner of Mozambique Voyages. “While we’ve always had spectacular Indian Ocean beaches on offer, in the last few years we’ve seen many new, small, eco-friendly and intriguing properties open along the coast catering to an upscale, international market. We also have new safari destinations across the country and are increasingly able to offer a complete Africa safari experience for travelers.